In a first review of its fleet of Boeing 737 NG passenger jets, the Australian airline Qantas has already discovered three hairline machines. This was announced by the company.
The cracks were at a point where the wings are attached to the fuselage. In aviation jargon these parts are called "Pickle Forks" because they are reminiscent of cucumber forks. The affected machines were withdrawn from circulation, it was said.
Experts of the airline meanwhile continued the investigation of the other identical aircraft. Altogether, there are 33 machines in Qantas' inventory which are to be checked before the usual inspection period.
The Boeing 737 NG is the predecessor of the 737 Max. The 737 Max models have been banned since mid-March due to two crashes with a total of 346 dead. A crucial cause of the accident is a faulty Boeing control program. Whether and when the machines will be able to withdraw again depends on international supervisory authorities and is currently unclear.
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